Cricket: Vettori proves he can match Murali

By MARK GEENTY

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka - Daniel Vettori was awarded cricketing superstar status and didn't prove captain Stephen Fleming's judgement wrong here yesterday.

New Zealand's No 1 spinner said he felt the pressure Sri Lankan kingpin Muttiah Muralitharan could relate to as he was tasked with bowling the tourists to victory - which he did to the tune of four for 14 off 10 overs.

It was Vettori's career-best figures in his 109th one-day international, beating his four for 24 against the West Indies in Taupo three years ago.

His 10 overs yesterday on a spin bowler's paradise were split into four spells, hardly a recipe for bowling success, but Vettori knew there was a method to Fleming's mindset.

"I told him it was like he's trying to turn me into Muralitharan, one over here, one over there. But it worked, and I guess it was up to me to break the partnerships."

Vettori admitted he thought "we never had enough runs" after New Zealand reached 156 for eight off their 50 overs.

But his first ball struck gold when he turned one through the gate against left-hander Kumar Sangakkara and hit the top of off stump, then next over he enticed captain Marvan Atapattu to drive a simple catch to substitute Matt Horne at mid-off.

After Tillakaratne Dilshan was dropped by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, Vettori soon sent him back when Fleming held an easy chance at first slip, then with his second-last ball he flighted one enticingly at Muralitharan who lofted a catch to Kyle Mills at mid-on.

Fleming, who purposely held Vettori back until the dying overs, said the spin whiz still had to avoid stage fright on such a dry, spinner-friendly surface.

"Often you get helpful conditions and the pressure goes on. If anything he can be too attacking, but he stuck to his guns today and won us the match," Fleming said.

Vettori, ever watchful of cricketing statistics, was eyeing the most economical bowling list, especially team-mate Chris Harris' one for 12 off 10 overs against Pakistan two years ago.

But after taking three for three off his first five overs the numbers blew out, still leaving Vettori tied for seventh with Martin Snedden and Gavin Larsen on the all-time economy list.

"It was in my mind, but two overs went for six so it killed that a little bit. I was pretty happy with 14 runs, but it would have been nice to go under Harry's 12."

It may have been Vettori's best figures but he rated an earlier match against Sri Lanka in 2001 ahead of it, in much less favourable conditions.

"I bowled a spell in Napier of three for 21 against these guys which was probably the best I've bowled in one-dayers. I'll take this as well because they're good players of spin.

"I probably didn't bowl the best I have but the conditions were great for me, and 95 per cent of the balls were in the right spot."

- NZPA